Integrating Chemistry and Art: A Laboratory Activity Exploring Copper-Based Ceramic Glaze Transformations

A hands-on educational activity integrating materials chemistry, visual art, and historical context through the formation of copper-based ceramic glazes is presented. Adapted for use in undergraduate classrooms, this experiment allows students to formulate, apply, and fire glazes containing copper-based colorants on ceramic test pieces to explore how thermal and chemical processes influence surface color, gloss, and texture. Designed to support interdisciplinary engagement, the activity encourages students to investigate glaze creation and application while linking observable artistic outcomes to core chemistry concepts, such as coordination chemistry and redox behavior. Instruction is supported by collaborative classroom discussion and interpretation of characterization data, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra. Postlab reflective writing prompts further reinforce conceptual understanding and promote synthesis across disciplines. Student responses indicated strong engagement and perceived gains in understanding. This activity provides a scalable, inquiry-based approach to incorporate the intersection of chemistry and art into science curricula.